Dunedin Fringe: Under New Management

The Dunedin Fringe Arts Trust is proud to
announce the appointment of Josh Thomas as its new Director.
He will take charge of Pecha Kucha Dunedin, the Amped Music
Project and the cornerstone Dunedin Fringe Festival. He
takes the reins from founding director Paul Smith, involved
since the Festival's inception in 2000.

"The Dunedin
Fringe Festival has become a celebrated part of our cultural
calendar. It provides an important platform for
extraordinary art and artists and I'm thrilled to come on
board", he said.

Josh has worked extensively in television
production (bro town), art direction (Shortland
Street) and events management. He is the current Dunedin
Manager of the New Zealand International Film Festival, and
the past coordinator of the Puaka Matariki Festival in
Otepoti Dunedin. He has plenty of ideas for the Fringe's
future, but remained tight lipped about any surprises.

"As
an open access festival, the strength of the Fringe comes
down to the energy and efforts of our artists locally,
nationally and internationally. I'm looking forward to
engaging Dunedin's creative community, and working with them
to put together the best programme possible in
2015."

Trust Chair Warren Taylor said the number, and
calibre, of applicants was a testament to how well regarded
the Fringe now was.

"Josh has the experience, drive and
commitment to Dunedin we were looking for. He is well placed
to take the base Paul Smith fostered for fourteen years, and
continue to build the Fringe into a world class event, by
and for the people of Dunedin."

Josh Thomas will take
office on August 18. Registrations for the 2015 Dunedin
Fringe will open in September, for the Festival in
March.

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